Kenora school lockdown was 'a very difficult experience,' superintendent says

Superior Morning7:14Kenora Lock Down

Beaver Brae High School was locked down after reports of an armed person in the vicinity of the school.

Officials with the Keewatin Patricia District School Board and the Ontario Provincial Police are continuing their investigation following a lockdown at Beaver Brae High School in Kenora, Ont., Friday November 6.

The high school was placed in immediate lockdown around lunchtime, after police received reports of a possibly armed person in the vicinity.

At first, police thought the threat was outside the building, so officers did a full sweep of school property, said board superintendent Joan Kantola.

'You don't know what their intentions are'

Once that was done police came back into the school and said they didn't find anyone, and at that point, officers began looking through surveillance footage to see if a person matching the description had entered the school, she said.

When officers still couldn't determine if the person was inside, the lockdown moved to the next level, which involved police doing a full sweep of every space in the school, accompanied by administration, said Kantola.

Schools in Ontario must practice their lockdown procedures twice a year, but she said it feels very different when it's not a drill.

"It's probably one of the most uncomfortable and upsetting situations that students and staff and administrators could ever be in because you don't know, when these students are identified, if they're bringing a real weapon or not. You don't know what their intentions are, " said Kantola.

One of Kantola's greatest fears was that someone might get hurt. "There are always circumstances in which people can get hurt and we are very fortunate that nobody did get hurt and that all of our students and staff are safe," she said.

During the sweep officers identified a student who matched the description and had an identical backpack, said Kantola.

He was questioned by police, and an examination of the firearm determined it to be a pistol style pellet gun, she said.

'Social media can be your best friend... and worst enemy'

Once police had made that discovery, the school went into the hold and secure procedure, with police staying until all students were dismissed, loaded onto buses and headed home, she said.

While the school was under lockdown, Kantola said she learned some valuable lessons about the use of technology. "Social media can be your best friend, and social media can be your worst enemy at times," she said, especially when inaccurate information is shared or posted. 

I did have a child in the building at the time, it is a very difficult experience- Joan Kantola

She noticed, as the police search intensified, eventually moving inside the school, anxious parents and teenagers were contacting each other on their smartphones and tablets.

She said the desire to reach out to a loved one during a crisis is totally understandable, but she now believes parents and students need more education around the safe use of mobile devices during lockdowns, such as being reminded to put them into silent mode.

"When you're in an actual lockdown, you need to be out of sight and there can't be any indication where you are so all the bells and whistles going off and having screens lights up, could potentially make you a target, " said Kantola.

She recommends parents check the school board's website and Facebook page for up-to-date information on any school emergency. As well, she suggests calling OPP communications, or the school board's communications office for more information, but not the school itself.

Kantola said this incident taught her that the collaboration between emergency response organizations and the school is critical to making sound decisions for the protection of students.

But as a parent, "because I did have a child in the building at the time, it is a very difficult experience," said Kantola.

A Kenora high school student has been suspended, and further disciplinary action could be pending.

School board and OPP officials will have a full debriefing session on Friday.

As a precaution, other nearby schools, including Pope John Paul II, Ecole Ste. Marguerite Bourgeoys and St. Thomas Aquinas High School were also placed under lockdown, police said in a written release November 6.